About me:

Dr Joanne Boldison completed her degree in Applied Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in 2006 at the University West of England, which included a year as a visiting undergraduate scientist in the Cell Biology Department at the University of Cincinnati, USA. Following her undergraduate degree she took up the role of laboratory technician in the Diabetes and Metabolism Unit at the University of Bristol. In 2008, she went on to undertake her doctoral studies in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Bristol with a focus on autoimmunity. In particular, research into ocular inflammation that focused on CD8 T cells and their regulatory mechanisms in a model of experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis.

Following her PhD, Dr Boldison moved to Cardiff University to continue her postdoctoral studies, to work with Professor Susan Wong and the Diabetes Research Group studying the immune pathology of type 1 diabetes.

Joanne’s overall research interest is to increase understanding of the immune pathology of type 1 diabetes, focusing specifically on the role of B cells in the inflammatory process and how they interact with other immune cell subsets.

Specifically, 1) dissecting B Cell: Dendritic Cell crosstalk and mechanisms during the development of disease and uncovering immune dysregulation in individuals diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. 2) identifying the role of islet-specific B cells and their importance in pancreatic beta cell destruction 3) understand B cell cooperation with immune cells and pancreatic beta cells during disease development.

• BSc (hons), University West of England
• PhD, University of Bristol